Clydebank 0
Dumbarton 1
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Brute strength robbed the youngsters of Clydebank of this game. Bankies were fielding almost exactly the same team as last week, with the exception of Eddie Rutherford playing at outside right, and the Clydebank lack of weight was certainly a disadvantage against a much heavier and taller Sons side.

The only goal of the game came in the 30th minute after centre forward Graham latched onto the ball 10 yards from the Clydebank goal. He was faced with a bunch of Clydebank defenders and hammered a lovely shot through them at goal, Young let back Fallon, seeing the danger, launched himself at the ball, but succeeded only in helping it on its way into the net.

Until then Clydebank had been playing by far the best game in attack. They were passing superbly and continually knocking holes in a very shaky Dumbarton defence.

Dumbarton’s saviour was certainly keeper Smith. On several occasions he stopped almost impossible shots, and had it not been for him, the final result would certainly have tallied against the visitors.

Alan Munro, centre forward for Clydebank, punched several holes in the Dumbarton defence finding their weakness down the centre of the field. On one occasion he took the ball down the centre but was forced out on the wing by the bulky Dumbarton defence.

Alan tried a shot from a very acute angle and keeper Smith was forced to dive to clear the ball. Alan ran in again for a second shot but was forced off the ball by right back McMurray who cleared upfield.

On another occasion right half Curran of Dumbarton had a chance to score coming in from the right wing. Unfortunately he hesitated for a moment before shooting, giving keeper Dick Madden a chance to line up with the shot and save.

The second half opened badly. Roy McCormack, of Dumbarton, formerly of Yoker Athletic was barging about like a bull in a china shop, the Clydebank players being the china, of course, and coupled with some very heavy tackles by Curran, referee Syme had a full time job on his hands keeping the peace. Eventually Curran had his name taken for perpetual fouling.

Clydebank badly wanted an equaliser and this was obvious in their play. The lads lack experience and in their enthusiasm tended to out-run themselves, spoiling a lot of good chances. They were getting the breaks but the Sons defence always managed to squeeze them out.

Even right back Brockett made a break in the 65th minute and tore up the right wing. He tried to cut in to the centre of the field, but was forced to shoot from fifteen yards out. The ball went over the bar, missing its target by inches.

With only ten minutes left to play Clydebank were getting desperate. The other back, Fallon, tried a shot from 30 yards out on the left wing; it surprised the Dumbarton defence, but went over the bar. Another shot from O’Brien from the same distance, only a minute later, went exactly the same way.

Two minutes from time Dick Madden saved face for Clydebank when he dived and grasped the ball from the feet of Dumbarton insode right McGhee who was coming through solo like an express train.

Despite this result this was not a bad game for Clydebank and I think the real reason behind the defeat lay in Dumbarton’s constant use of the offside rule.